Women UZSC and GZC Donk reach KNZB Cup final
In the KNZB Cup semifinals for women, GZC Donk and UZSC won their matches last night, securing spots in the cup final. In Zaandam, Erik Brugue's team won 10-11 against the home team. In Leiden, the women from Utrecht defeated ZVL-1886 with a score of 6-8.The cup final will take place on Sunday, February 9, 2025.
ZVL-1886 – UZSC 6-8 (1-4, 4-6, 6-8, 6-8) - Officiated by Ruben Sap and Harvey Hinds
The match can be viewed via this livestream, the match photos are available on the image bank.
In Leiden, the women from Utrecht and Leiden put on a magnificent battle for a spot in the Hague's Hofbad. UZSC emerged victorious, with goalkeeper Jade Sinnema playing a crucial role. Both teams demonstrated great teamwork at De Vliet pool. Emma van Rossum and Sterre Bijkerk scored three goals each for UZSC, while Anne van Rossum and Isis Keijzer added to the tally. For the home team, Esmée Kraaienbeek (2), Jolijn Joor, Karen van Rijn, Tess van der Meer, and Anna Pauli (all with 1 goal) found the net.
The visiting team started strong with goals from Van Rossum and Bijkerk, before Pauli scored for the home team. After Keijzer's goal early in the second quarter made it 1-5, Rob Bijeman's team played more freely. UZSC maintained their lead throughout the match, although Niels Joor's young team did not give up. Kraaienbeek's goal in the third period brought the score to 5-6, keeping both teams fighting till the end. UZSC's defense, led by goalkeeper Sinnema, remained solid, ensuring they maintained their lead. The final quarter was goalless, becoming a battle of endurance for the ladies. UZSC captain Isis Keijzer expressed her happiness with the victory.
''It's great that we made it to the final. We had confidence after analyzing Leiden well, and I'm glad we came out on top. The three-goal lead in the first two periods was crucial; we had to keep pushing till the end to secure the win. We played really well as a team and now we're preparing for the final against a strong Donk.''
Janieke Oosting, captain of the home team, reflected on the lost match.
''I think we performed better compared to our league match. We created many chances but failed to convert enough goals, which is disappointing. We started without enough sharpness, and they scored early, putting us on the back foot. We couldn't capitalize on some crucial moments, and that cost us the game.''
ZV De Zaan – GZC Donk 10-11 (4-3, 5-4, 8-8, 10-11)
The match can be viewed via this livestream.
Under the guidance of Roeland Sonnemans and Peter de Jong, the match began at 7:40 PM in Zaandam. Title favorites ZV De Zaan and GZC Donk demonstrated top-level water polo in the semifinal. Both teams were evenly matched throughout the match, with tactical decisions leading to minimal differences in score.
Mick van den Bree commented on the match, "I witnessed an incredible game. Unfortunately, we ended up on the wrong side of the scoreline. Nevertheless, I enjoyed watching my team play."
Ingrid Veenhuis expressed her joy at the victory.
''What a game it was. Both teams fought hard in a tough match where many opportunities were created and missed. It was an incredibly tense and tactical game between two final teams. After our time out, we scored immediately, so that was executed perfectly. The girls are happy, so the coaching staff is happy too!''
